Lichfield’s MP has said a deal on a referendum on Britain’s place in Europe could be key to the Tories seeing off the threat of UKIP in the next General Election.
In his document – The Pact? – Michael Fabricant suggested the move in order to “stop the continued haemorrhage of Conservative votes”.
He added: “UKIP is now an electoral threat to the Conservative party.
“This threat has arisen because Europe is once again an issue of concern to many voters across the United Kingdom.
“With the Eurozone crisis changing the nature of our own membership by the minute, UKIP’s message is gaining traction with many, and fast.”
Although he rejected suggestions that UKIP was likely to be a direct threat at present, Mr Fabricant warned that the party’s share of the vote could cost the Tories in marginal seats.
And he admitted that Conservative voters could be swayed by UKIP’s leader Nigel Farage.
“[He] is a former Thatcherite who sounds like a Conservative, who looks like a Conservative, and in other circumstances probably would be a Conservative.
“One thing is for certain. UKIP is gaining traction because of Europe. Although it considers itself to be a multi-issue party, its
overwhelming raison d’être is for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union.
“There is a direct correlation between the European question and the increase in UKIP support. The Conservative Party must now stop this steady erosion.”
Mr Fabricant’s report suggests the Tories now need to “urgently consider” whether to:
- Commit to a straight ‘in-out’ referendum on the UK’s continued membership of the European Union (with a minimum turnout of 50 per cent to give the vote legitimacy).
- Obtain a firm commitment from UKIP that any such referendum will be guaranteed if they agree not stand against Conservative candidates – a deal which their leader has already tentatively suggested.
“Such an offer would not be a sign of weakness by the Conservative Party,” Mr Fabricant added. “It would be a pragmatic extension of existing philosophy from a Party of Government.
“For UKIP, if a referendum were fought and the UK chose to leave the EU, their party would in effect be finished as a political entity.
“Similarly, if a referendum were held and the UK decided to remain inside the EU, then UKIP would be unable to fight the obvious tensions of the European question within the Conservative Party for many years to come.”
Click below to see Mr Fabricant’s document in full:
